IQ Testing for Gifted Children

I teach gifted Kindergarten in a suburban private school for gifted children who have been identified as such by a psychologist. Families pay approximately 500 dollars to have the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence administered. We identify children as gifted if their full scale score is equal to or above 120.

Typically local public school districts do not identify children as gifted until about third grade. With a private psychologist's report you may be able to get a head start with modifications for your daughter. But a very good teacher will modify for her anyhow. Be an advocate for your child!

There are three area private schools which cater to gifted children almost exclusively. They range in price from 14,000 per year to 17,000. They all have a system in place to assess financial need for families.

Finally, one departing thought... the characteristic which displays giftedness most, in my eyes, is the outstanding ability for children to think differently. We have children who can read, write and perform math high above a Kindergarten level. However, they can not think outside of the box. We also service children who academically are at a Kindergarten level but can blow our minds with creative thought. The creative thinkers can approach life from so many angles. It's fun to witness.

Feel free to send me a message if you would like any information that I may be able to help with. Good luck!!!!!

My suggestion is to go online and get in contact with a group organized around gifted children, they should be a great resource. She seems to be not only gifted but highly spiritual, in that she felt the sadness of the Holocaust victims. I remember having experiences like that as a child, 4th dimension stuff. She is fortunate to have aware and loving parents. Do not worry about the money, her way will be opened to you.

I would try checking with your school district. They may provide some testing that is free or may be able to refer you. Any psychologist who works with children may be able to do the testing as well or make a referral. Behavior issues are typical with gifted children, many times because they are bored with the educational setting or with children who are not at their same level intellectually. Good Luck! Your daughter sounds like a neat little girl!

You should call your school district. I don't think it would make sense to pay for an IQ test if you plan for her to get accpted for the gifted program (as they will require you to pay for their own IQ test which would be administered by them as well as a couple others manditory tests).

Most of the items you had mentioned, I believe are normal, such as finding reading her favorite book, direct me turn by turn how to get to his grandmother's house (35 minute drive), how to get to his father's work (20 minute drive), a friend's house that lives in Aurora (which he has only been to once and that was a 40 minute drive), pin point where we live on a globe as well as where China, India, North Pole, South Pole, Bahama, Florida, TX, IN, CA and Canada are. Both my kids also love watching shows in Spanish (which I don't get at all) and would rather play with older kids than their own age. They both love music and my son can listen to a song once and then sing every word the very next time he hears it. At about 3, and we would be driving, he would say "that's the same car/truck/van Dave/Bob/Sandy/grandma/uncle John drives". Each time he would say that, I would have to drive up closer to figure out what the make it was and would say you are correct, that's a Dodge Caravan, Toyota Oddessy, Honda Civic, Pontiac Sunfire, etc. Once I said that, he would then spot out other vehicles and say there goes a Pontiac Sunfire, Honda Accord, Kia Sorento, etc. I have no idea where or how he picks up things, but he does.

I guess what I'm saying is I would not consider either of my kids as gifted, but just normal everyday kids good memories and possibly a little of their own special talents mixed in. My daughter can somehow tell what time it when someone asks (and generally, she's about 10-15 minutes off). It might be 6:50 pmand she'll say it's 7:00, or it might be 9:15 am and she'll say it's 9:00. To this day, I have no idea how she does it, but she does.

We've never spoken to them as if they were babies and they often repeat what we say, such as "please allow me to speak without interrupting me" and they both have been known to tell adults "please do not interrupt me. I'm trying to say something".

Kids are like sponges, they absorb more than we think they can

Good luck.

Hi K. - I can't help you with any recommendations about testing for gifted kids, but if you are willing to consider sending your daughter to a private preschool and elementary school where they will adapt your daughter's day to any exceptional needs or abilities she has, check out Carol Stream Christian Academy (www.carolstreamchristianacademy.com). The preschool is highly academic compared to other preschools. My oldest, who will soon be 7 and is in first grade, has gone there since she was 3.5 (we initially had her at another preschool that was mostly play-oriented), and she loves it. They immediately identified her as having exceptional reading skills and created a special reading group for her with another boy in her PK-3 class who could read almost as well. Currently, she and he go to a combined second/third-grade reading group in the school every day. My second child, who recently turned 5, has also gone there since he was 3 (and also loves it), and they did the same with him. Although he is currently with others his age in PK-4, they send him to the first grade reading group every day. I have a 2-year-old son who I will send there in Fall 2011 for PK-3. The school has only 50 kids and caters to each one. My kids and their classmates are farther ahead of their peers at other schools in terms of academic skills, but socially and developmentally and in every other way, they are exactly like kids at other schools.